We first met Sophie when she headed up Worn for Good, a circular fashion business, which donates 100% of its profits to charity. The way she has effortlessly dedicated her professional and personal life to giving back to communities has always been an inspiration for us.
With over 10 years of experience practicing, studying, and teaching yoga in both Australia and overseas, Sophie is currently working with non-profit A Sound Life. The charity brings music, yoga, and meditation as free services to underprivileged and vulnerable communities, delivering yoga and meditation programs to women in refuge, people in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, children and adults with disabilities, and hospitalized teenagers living with mental health and eating disorders.
What role has mindfulness played for you in motherhood and as a woman so far?
I remember being 38 weeks pregnant with our first baby, eagerly awaiting the birth when a dear friend shared with me her experience into motherhood, being an “initiation by fire” to the path of surrender.
What I’m constantly learning, (and remembering when I continue to forget) is that raising children is kind of like that. Whether in pregnancy, birth, navigating a big stage or age, or just a regular day of being a parent - to be in the process of surrender and presence so that more patience, love, and joy are able to arise.
When we can let go and let be - no matter how challenging, messy, remarkable, or unremarkable the situation, the result is usually more relief. More peace.
Remembering to pause, find your center, and breathe in the moments of chaos (the sleepless nights, the juggling of many things, the wearing of all the hats, the managing of emotions - your own, and those you love). Remembering that when we take off the gloves and surrender, when we stop wishing for things to be different, accepting the moment is simply unfolding and fleeting and soon enough there will be a new moment. One that we have never seen before, and we’ll never see again - it just feels better. Like a big exhale.
I like to remind myself that it’s similar to having to stop at a red traffic light. A forced pause on a busy, chaotic road, while we’re in a mad rush to get somewhere else. Instead of being caught in the frustration of wishing we weren’t held up, can we use that moment as a grateful pause, inviting us to slow down for a minute and come back to ourselves.
It's a practice that takes practice but I’m so grateful to be able to lean on the tools that help bring me back to the here and now every day.
It also helps to unlock the simple joys of hanging out with small people and seeing the world through their unique lens. Kids are so fun and silly and have a pure divinity and presence about them where they’re happy for no reason. It’s fun and humbling to be reminded of the way they see the world, and all the sweetness and beauty in it.
In your opinion how important is a self-regulated parent and why should we heal ourselves for our children?
My personal initiation into motherhood has been without a doubt the most magical, challenging, triggering, heart-expanding process. Little people have a way of being the biggest teachers, with the biggest teachings. They shine a light or a mirror on all the parts of yourself…The bits you’re proud of, the bits you should be proud of, the not-so-great bits, the bits you’d absolutely like to try to do differently tomorrow, and all the bits in between.
Becoming aware of our own patterning and ways of being, and then working to lovingly acknowledge and dissolve what we wish to let go of and what we wish to take with us on our parenting journey feels like a path of patience, love, and compassion. It’s not always easy - but it's a powerful learning process that I’m sure never stops.
Where is a good starting point for mothers and parents? How can we access spirituality in our everyday lives?
I think self-inquiry and spirituality are callings from the heart that arise at a time if and when a person feels ready to explore it further.
In my personal experience, being on a ‘spiritual’ path isn't always straightforward - kind of like the journey of being a mother. It can be both beautiful and messy and asks you to look into the matters of your inner world, into your heart and mind, and shines a light on where you can grow.
A few ways that might inspire a connected self through spiritual practice:
- Yoga is a great entry point to spiritual practice. A physical practice that for many is often a gateway for a deeper calling to explore the breath, mind, and heart!
- Having a teacher or teachers that you feel called to learn from is a beautiful way to get grounded in practices that inspire and serve you personally.
- Embodied practices that make you and your body feel GOOD! Surfing, dancing, jogging, whatever makes you feel that joy spontaneously arise in your body.
- Spend time in nature - the forest, ocean, dunk yourself in a big body of water. Mother Nature is the mother of all teachers.
- Find a community of people who share your interests. Immerse yourself in interesting knowledge; books, podcasts, and people who inspire you and your journey. I always love the Soma podcasts. I loved Gary Gorrow's interview with Dr Saamdu Chetri. Tara Brach and Sarah Blondin share beautiful meditations. Always Potent reminders.
